Sunday, November 27, 2011

I keep sending pictures of my bikes to people. So I may as well just make a blog post for everyone to see.

My first bike a blue Chimo Criterium that I bought when I was 13. Unfortunately, it was stolen when I was in my early twenties. I'll see if I can find an old picture of it.

Torrot

This second bike I got as a teenager, when I was 16. It is a Spanish bike, brand name, Torrot, meaning "bull". It was only imported into Canada, by one man, Ozzie Mellon, an colorful and opinionated character.

Friday, November 25, 2011

I've been contemplating. Some of our behaviors can be very good for an individual (in the microcosm), but at the same time, be bad for society (the macrocosm). Or vice versa. Or, they can be good for both. Or, even bad for both.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Recently, I came across the April 1959 issue of Mechanix Illustrated magazine.

It had the article: Heat Your House With Solar Energy, by John I Yellot.

I've been looking at solar energy for a few years now, including solar thermal for heating. It's very interesting to see this early work of this solar pioneer.

The issue of economics was also mentioned back then:

"The principles of solar heating are simple. The trick is to install the equipment at a cost so low that the total annual cost of owning it and whatever auxiliary equipment is needed to ensure good year-round performance is less than the cost of doing the entire heating job by conventional methods."

It's good to see that after 50 years, there are a lot more efficient, and cost effective solar systems on the market now!

I always throw my lock, tire repairs stuff, etc. in my bike panniers. In the past, when I've left stuff in panniers on the bike, some objects have got ripped off from inside the bags. So, when I go to the store, the bags always come with me via quick releases. Thus, my desire for a bike racks over the rear tire on all my bikes. One set of bags and tools. Just move them from from bike to bike.

I had a older Specialized Allez Pro from the early 90s.

I loved how this bike handled. But, this bike did not have any eyelets for either rack or fenders. :(